While we tend to focus on the physical disruption Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) introduces, there are also the dangerous mental complications accompanying this condition. Allow me to walk you through some of the interesting – if not alarming – statistics:
- 33% of PsA patients have at least mild anxiety
- 20% of PsA patients have at least mild depression
- 14% of PsA patients have at least moderate depression
Now, if such complications are not handled promptly, Psoriatic arthritis symptoms can deteriorate dramatically. Patients struggling with depression and anxiety have reduced pain tolerance. These mental conditions can also make it harder for the patient to be consistent with their treatment regimen.
Can a therapist offer genuine succor?
Therapists can be of immense help in situations of sustained pain episodes accompanied by negative behavioral patterns. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most prevalently adopted therapies in treating PsA. How?
In a CBT procedure, the practitioner picks out disruptive thought patterns, reconstructing them via coping strategies to better equip you in your recovery process from PSA.
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Research so far has consolidated the long-term efficiency of CBT in improving depression and anxiety in people with chronic conditions like Psoriatic arthritis. Particular research some 21 years ago showed that participants (who had chronic conditions) enjoyed reasonable pain relief upon a CBT administration while improving their temperament and sleeping regimen.
There are cases where patients who had CBT recorded tangible improvements in their immune system function. A 2020 study found that the administration of CBT reduces the content of inflammatory markers. You will agree this is good news for people with conditions related to inflammation like PSA.
But of course, not just any therapist will get the job done. How about we explore what specific parameters to leverage when selecting the ideal therapist to consult if you have psoriatic arthritis?
How to identify a befitting therapist
From psychologists to social workers to licensed clinical social workers (LCSW) and licensed professional counselors (LPC), there is a broad spectrum of practitioners you could turn to for therapy for psoriatic arthritis.
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These practitioners could combine cognitive behavioral therapy, stress management therapy, guided imagery training, topical psychotropic medications, and psychological counseling.
Qualifications are a core yardstick for identifying the ideal therapist. You are poised to get the best results if your therapist has specific expertise in managing patients with chronic conditions like PSA.
One critical aspect many patients hurriedly forget is licensing. Does the therapist have an active license in your state? You don’t need to guess this as you have a reliable repository in the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards. There, you can confirm if the therapist is authorized to practice within that jurisdiction.
Your health insurance providers could point you to qualified mental health practitioners that accommodate your insurance plan. Now, if you are keen on cutting costs, you may resort to university health clinics, community health clinics, and teaching hospitals.
Some of these facilities offer mental health services at remarkably discounted prices or even free. Also, a number of therapists also ease the financial intensity of treatment by proffering sliding-scale fees.
How would a session with the therapist turn out?
Therapy sessions barely last more than an hour.
This depends on the severity of your condition (as determined by the gravity of your symptoms), and yes, your budget.
Depending on the arrangement, the therapist could schedule you with another patient for group sessions or give you a more personalized treatment plan in one-on-one sessions.
Being that we live in a beautifully digitized world, there is the option of remote sessions with your therapist using video conferencing.
Fundamentally, the therapist would investigate the nature of your condition.
To better customize your treatment plan, they would dig into your thought patterns, inquiring about your temperament and overall handicaps when managing your psoriasis arthritis.
After having a granular understanding of your situation, the therapist deciphers the coping techniques that would best help you recognize disruptive thought patterns and harmful behaviors.
This would involve you learning mind-body strategies to enhance your relaxation.
With the technological advancements garnishing the medical space, more therapists are beginning to leverage biofeedback to ramp up patient’s coping skills.
With such biofeedback sensors stationed, the therapist can have a more accurate examination of how you react to various stimuli.
